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The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror (2024)
A Story I've Waited 40 Years to Hear
I grew up in Torrance, California where Tina Risco was abducted in 1984. We went to the same high school, but didn't know each other (she was 2 grades behind me). I only knew who she was because my high school boyfriend dated her after we broke up.
The story of her abduction captivated and horrified our community as it unfolded 40 years ago. Then its conclusion baffled many of us for decades, as it left so many unanswered questions:
1) Why didn't Tina try to get word to her family and the authorities as soon as she was safe on the airplane and free of this monster?
2) Why was going to buy lingerie the first thing she did after getting off the plane?
3) Why did she wait so long to go to the police?
When a childhood friend reached out to tell me about this documentary a few days ago, I couldn't get through it fast enough to learn the answers to those questions.
I must admit, I was a skeptic all these years, but after seeing the final segment of this documentary, I get it now.
This woman had a horrific upbringing, living through sexual abuse at a frighteningly young age and watching her mom O. D. on Heroine not once, but twice - including finding her mom unresponsive and frothing at the mouth at age 4?!
And she was so used to being a latchkey youth, she wondered through most of her captivity if anyone even knew she was missing.
To me, that answers question #1 ... there was no safety and comfort returning to the dysfunctional life with her mom. She felt more loved and secure with her boyfriend, so she went to his house instead.
I also find it totally logical that she'd be so exhausted from the psychological and physical torture of the last 9 days that she'd literally collapse and sleep through the plane rides home.
As for the lingerie shopping spree, I get that now, too. For one, she was in the same clothes for 9 days - especially undergarments - which probably reeked of her captor. She wanted a clean, fresh underwear and bra to get some of him off of her.
And, if she bought more than just those two items, so what?
She'd been so controlled, manipulated and tortured for 9 days, I get how she may have just wanted to be free and live a normal life in that moment - and do something that just made her feel happy. For many teenage girls of the day, that's going on a shopping spree. Perhaps her soul just needed that little bit of normalcy to start the reset process.
As far as her delay in going to the police ... she was keenly aware at this point that people knew who she was and that once she returned home, the media would be hounding her and her life would once again be restrictive and not her own... yet another reason to grab a few quiet moments of normalcy before entering the media circus that was bound to come with her safe return.
It's so easy to judge, but there's no playbook for how to survive abduction by a serial killer - especially as a teen. No one knows how they'd react unless they'd lived through the same situation. Her years of dealing with abuse by just "shutting off and taking it" more than likely gave her the training needed to stay alive while at the hands of this psychopath.
And as for the accusations of her being wilder's accomplice ... really?? She didn't ask to be abducted by this man. And in her own words, he pulled some kind of "Jedi mind-f__k" on her, so much so that even during moments where one might think she could've escaped, his control and manipulation were so thorough, she was convinced he'd easily track her down and kill her if she tried.
She did what she needed to do to stay alive. Period.
After watching this documentary, I have a new found respect for Tina Risico. Hopefully any support she receives from telling her story outweighs those who are still skeptical.
Side note: subject matter aside, the production quality over all is a bit weak on this documentary. I agree with other reviewers; they over-use "stock" 80's videos, and there's a fair amount of of padding that could've been cut - this could've easily been one episode.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Made for people who read the book
My memories of Dune 1:
1. Didn't understand the story
2. Nodded off a few times
3. A wtf moment at the end when, well, it doesn't really end... to be continued ... 3 years later ...
That's pretty much my memories of the original Dune movie years ago as well - the one with Kyle McLaughlin.
So since the hubby and step-son are big Dune fans, I agreed to go again to Dune 2 with them in hopes to getting a more full and comprehendible story this time. (BTW - we saw both 1 and 2 in iMax, so, you know, the sand dunes would be bigger...)
My thoughts on Dune 2:
1. Didn't understand the story
2. Nodded off a few times
3. *Maybe* a to-be-continued ending...? Maybe not? (See point #1)
After the movie, got a chuckle out of seeing a couple small groups in the lobby where "Dune-nerds" were explaining what happened in the movie to those they brought with them.
These weren't simply "this is what the ending meant" conversations. These were much longer dissertations where basically the Dune-nerds were explaining the entire Dune story to their bewildered looking companions.
My hubby and step-son loved it - couldn't get enough. My husband held one of those dissertations for me in the truck on the way home.
Summation:
The Dune series is made for those who already know the story. Period. Not remotely interesting/discernible to those who haven't read the book.
I've made a decision:
Dune 3 will be a *great* bonding experience for my husband and step-son! I'll save us the $20 iMax ticket and take a proper nap at home. ;-)
The Lion King (1997)
Nothing short of spectacular
Don't be fooled into thinking this is a kids show. This is more. This is SO much more.
When I saw in the program that Julie Taymor (Across the Universe) was the Director, I knew we'd be in for a treat. It did not disappoint.
The lighting and visuals ... the African rhythms ... the elaborate sets and costumes ... the performances ... all are beyond epic! It's Arguably the best live stage performance I've ever seen.
The actors are also puppeteers, managing not only their dialog, singing and dance, but also operating their character's animal self.
My only regret was not getting seats in the first few sections of the theater where parts of the production take place around you in the aisles.
Plus, even in a smaller theater (2500 seats) we were too far back to really catch the detail of the face art on the characters... although in a way that helped add to the illusion of that character's animal-self.
If you get the opportunity to see this production live, don't hesitate - buy tickets asap!
The Ranch (2016)
Stick around ... it gets better
Like most sitcom pilot episodes, I hated pretty much the entire first half of episode one (I thought this during episode one Friends, too)... It's a combination of not yet knowing (nor being vested) in the characters, combined with a totally unrealistic laugh track that goes nuts over stupid and obvious sitcom-y jokes. Then, about half way through, things turned around for me...
Perhaps it was the things you don't usually find in a sitcom ... the unexpected dropping of the f-bomb; the partial nudity; the *very* adult situation played out in a way that's way more realistic than sitcoms have ever dared display in the past (loved the mom doing the walk-of-shame in front of her son the morning after sleeping-over with her estranged husband, then announcing she was sorry, there was no whipped cream for his pancakes, "your father and I used it all last night."
OK ... you've grabbed me -- I'll keep watching.
I stuck it out, too, because I was curious of this cast pairing. Having been a fan of The 70's Show -- particularly of the Danny Masterson's portrayal of "Hyde" -- I was interested in seeing how it played out with Aston Kutcher and Masterson once again sharing a sitcom stage. And a being a long-time fan of Sam Elliot, curious how that would play out as well.
While I do love the story line of the parents (Sam Elliot and Debra Winger), to me the weak link in the cast by-far is Winger who doesn't seem to have the comedic timing needed for sitcom acting -- her line delivery to me seems forced and unnatural.
Overall, this is a worthy watch and it kept me interested thru the first 10 episodes. Let's see where it goes from here ....
Teen Beach Movie (2013)
Enjoyable even for parents!
Two years ago my kids were getting very excited about something new coming to the Disney Channel - Teen Beach Movie.
The idea of a Disney musical about kids on the beach sounded kinda lame to me, but I kept getting drawn in as I walked by my kid's room while they watched it.
Finally, I sat down to watch the whole thing ... and watched it with them again, and again, and again. Yes, I'll admit it -- I was a late-40's mom who fell in love with Teen Beach Movie.
Having grown up on Beach Blanket Bingo films, I loved what Disney did with this parody. It's a cute premise that pays homage to the old goofy classics in a really charming way.
It's fun, funny, and the tunes are so catchy, two years later we still break out into them from time to time in our house.
Don't expect ground breaking cinema here, but it's a fun little romp, suitable for the whole family, that parents who grew up in the 60's and 70's might just get a kick out of.
Teen Beach 2 (2015)
A disappointment
Can't believe after a two year wait this was the best Disney could come up with ... a disjointed story, less then memorable tunes, and plenty of missed opportunities ...
Two years ago the idea of a Disney musical about kids on a beach sounded kinda lame to me, but I kept getting drawn in as I walked by the TV as my kids watched the original Teen Beach Movie. Finally, I sat down to watch the whole thing ... and watched it with them again, and again, and again. Yes, I'll admit it -- I was a late-40's mom who fell in love with Teen Beach Movie.
Having grown up on Beach Blanket Bingo films, I loved what Disney did with this parody in the original film. It was a cute premise that paid homage to the old goofy classics in a really charming way. It was fun, funny, and the tunes were so catchy, we still break out into them from time to time in our house.
So needless to say, over recent months the excitement has been building in our household in anticipation for the premiere of Teen Beach 2 ... then we watched it. Even my youngest who always thinks the sequel (or any most recent movie he's seen) is the best movie ever, looked sadly to me afterward and said he expected better. I'd been holding my tongue with pretty much the same sentiment since the movie started.
My son is still holding out for redemption in a Teen Beach 3. As for me? This was the lame movie I thought I was avoiding the first time around.
Sigh ... that's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back ...
Boyhood (2014)
Can *nothing* be ground-breaking art? I'm on the fence...
I guess this is a spoiler review, in that this is a movie about "nothing"... but, is that such a novel concept?
Seinfeld made a hugely successful TV show out of nothing... Ah, but is it easier to pallet everyday, relatable "nothing-ness" when presented with a comedic edge, than it is to view is in an "artsy" (debatable) format which focuses on the harsh realities and struggles of everyday life that many go to the movies to escape from?
That's where I sit after viewing this film ... not sure if what I just saw is great art that will stand the test of time, or did I just lose 3 hours of squirming discomfort viewing a painful, dysfunctional family's struggles that I shared more than a few relatable moments with? (And not in a good way.)
I went into this film with high expectations - which was mistake #1. Now that said, I think it would've been a mistake to have never seen this movie ... the concept itself - being filmed over the course of 12 years with same actors - is novel and ambitious enough to warrant viewing it. I'd just advise viewers read *many* reviews before going ... the negative as well as the positive. Both have their merits. Be aware of what you're setting yourself up for. Had I done that, I'd have adjusted my expectations accordingly and *might* have walked away with a different first impression of this film.
A little background here ...
I'm not someone who needs my art spoon-fed to me ... I've been a film festival aficionado for over 25 years. That said, I also know that not every film festival offering is great by any means -- you have to weed through to find the gems.
I also *get* that great art isn't always "comfortable". Sometimes (for me) the mark of a great film is that it gets you thinking -- for good, or bad, and you don't always feel like what you just saw was something *amazing* the minute you walk out of the theater. It's for that reason I gave this movie a 6 instead of a 4 or a 5.
For me, even if the film is uncomfortable, if it sparks a dialogue and debate about what you just saw for days/weeks after, then I will rank a film higher (I'm thinking "Magnolia", here, where I walked out of thinking "what the heck did I just see??" to eventually settling on it being a pretty cool concept piece work that I'd wished I'd known a little more about going in.)
So, I guess in that sense, this film is not without its merits. I imagine it will probably receive its fair share of awards and accolades.
Maybe some films just need multiple viewings to truly appreciate them? Maybe this one of them. But just like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Schindler's List", I'm glad I saw them, but can't see myself sitting through this movie a second time. While without any graphic violence, Boyhood has painful everyday moments in the struggles of single-motherhood that hit to core, which I don't think I'd care to relive.
Bottom line: go in with your eyes wide open as to what you're about to see. Watch it for the value of the novelty of the concept, and don't look for any ground-break plot development, as you won't find any. And, if you're a single mother, even if you and your partner as artsy film festival types, I'd highly advise avoiding this as a date nite selection.